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Choosing a Literary Agent 2/14/2018 9:00:00 AM by: Andy Lee

There was a day when literary agents weren’t necessary, but in today’s industry, agents are the link between authors and publishers. Most publishers no longer accept unsolicited queries and proposals.

We have opportunities at conferences (like FCWC) to meet with acquisition editors of the publishing houses, but most of us can only afford one conference a year. An agent can send your proposal to publishers throughout the year.

These are primary reasons why literary agents are necessary.

Today’s industry demands it.

An agent verifies the quality of your work.

Agents can work through the legalities of contracts.

So, we are desperate to acquire an agent, right? But there are some things to know that will help navigate the waters of choosing the right agent for you.

Remember, it’s a relationship.

Though the contract you sign with the agent will only include the particular project for which she will be representing you, signing that contract does imply the decision to work with this agent on other book projects. It is the start of a long relationship (hopefully). Personalities and communication styles are important. If you aren’t comfortable in the communication process with an agent, such as the tone of the e-mails or the time it takes for him to respond, this may not be a good fit—though we must remember that most agents are very busy. Have grace on their response time.

Not all agents are the same.

Some literary agents are very “hands-off” with their authors. They only communicate with them a couple of times throughout the year. They do not help brainstorm branding, platform building, or future projects. They are only about finding a publisher. And that is okay, if that is what you want—and some of us do. Some agents are more “hands-on” taking time to communicate more often, encourage, and brainstorm. And some of us need/want that.

[Important: It isn’t the agent’s job to build the author’s platform or act as the publicist. Their job is to find a publisher.]

Things to do when considering an agent:

Visit the agent’s site to know what kind of work he represents (fiction, nonfiction, children, romance, etc.) You should do this before you query the agency. Look at the authors he represents. Notice how many and if you recognize any of them. You may prefer an agent that represents a lot of authors, or you may want one that has a smaller client base. Read the blog on the site to get a better idea of his or her passion, voice, and personality.

When appropriate, before you sign a contract, ask a few questions regarding what you hope to have in an agent. Spend some time understanding their style and asking what they expect of their authors. Remember, this is going to be a long relationship, so you want to work well together.

It takes a team to publish a book, and that team starts with the author and her literary agent.

Join the conversation: If you’ve been in the industry for some time, what have you learned about choosing an agent? If you’re new, what are some questions you have for an agent?

Andy Lee is a blogger, speaker, Bible teacher, and new author of A Mary Like Me: Flawed Yet Called and The Book of Ruth Key Word Bible Study. She is the FCWC blog managing editor and the president of Word Weavers of Wilmington, NC. Join hundreds of viewers daily on her Faceook Live broadcast of the Bite of Bread for fellowship, encourgement, and soul nourishment. You can also find new Bible reading plans based on a theme for the week on her site www.wordsbyandylee.com where she helps her readers dig deep to live fully.